Monday, July 8, 2013

Zebra Bundt Cake - an SRC Bonus

Whoa. Can you believe it's July already? More than half-way done the year!

We've been keeping super busy around here, trying to take full advantage of the summer weather and time and everything that goes along with it. I apologize (again) for the blog-silence.

Last week, the host for one of the other Secret Recipe Club groups asked the community for help - a member of her reveal group was having computer problems and wouldn't be able to get their post up for today's reveal. Being someone who hates to see someone go orphaned, I immediately volunteered to help.

And was beyond happy when the assignment came back to be Food Ramblings, a delicious blog run by the very talented Elizabeth.

Since this was a relatively last month assignment, I was worried that I'd have trouble choosing what to make, but I actually made my choice very quickly (well, for me!). You see, I was looking for something... different. Something... fun. And when I saw a posting for Zebra Bundt Cake I knew that was the recipe for me.

This can't really be called a healthy recipe, what with the three sticks of butter, five eggs and two and a half cups of sugar, but what it lacks in nutrition (hey, it's summer!), it makes up in FUN.

It starts with a buttery, sweet batter. Then half of that batter is mixed in with a sweet, chocolate-y mixture.

Then scoops of the white and chocolate batter are alternately spooned over each other in to a well buttered and floured Bundt pan.

The result is a pseudo-swirl of thick batter, all ready to be popped into the oven.

But when it comes out, that's not the end. Oh no.

You see, the cake is then smothered in a delicious chocolate glaze, dripping deliciousness all over the place.

Knowing I'd be making this cake, I invited some friends over for an afternoon-snack-time playdate, with this as the main character. Both moms and all four kids loved seeing this guy cut.

Each piece was a new pattern, which was as fun to look at as it was to eat. While my zebra patterning didn't turn out quite as cool as Elizabeth's, I still really enjoyed it.

I definitely look forward to visiting Food Ramblings again and making lots more of the yummy recipes!

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and carefully flour a bundt pan well. Set aside.
In a small bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. In another bowl, mix together 1/2 cup sugar, the cocoa powder and the water. Stir until a smooth paste forms. Set aside.
In the bowl of your mixer, cream together the cooled melted butter and the remaining 2 cups sugar. Add vanilla and beat until combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
With the mixer on low, add 1/3 of the flour mixture, then half of the milk, then repeat until all the milk and flour have been incorporated. Measure out two heaping cups of the mixture and mix into the bowl with the chocolate mixture. Stir to combine.
To make the zebra look:
Spoon a heaping tablespoon of the white batter into the bundt pan. Spoon an equal amount of the chocolate mixture directly in the middle of the white. Next, spoon some white into the center of the chocolate. Repeat until all of the batter has been used.
Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Remove from oven and let cool.

The zebra swirl design on this bundt cake looks very fun. A zebra bundt cake is a new concept for me. Yes this cake would definitely not be classed as healthy, but few cakes are. It seems like making that interesting effect really only takes the added step of alternating batters, great idea.